No. 886
Editorial Note
In preparation for the convening of the Austrian Treaty Deputies in London on August 31, as proposed in the United States note to the Soviet Government of August 17, the Department of State recommended that a tripartite group of British, French, and United States officials be formed in London to develop recommendations for negotiating tactics to be used if the August 31 meeting was held. Homer M. Byington was appointed by the Acting Secretary of State on August 17 to replace Dowling as the United States Deputy for Austria because of Dowling’s transfer to Bonn. Byington was instructed to proceed to London along with other Department and Embassy advisers to begin the tripartite consultations. (Telegram 903 to London, August 21, 663.001/8–2153)
The formal invitations for the August 31 meeting were issued on August 24 by the Secretary General of the Council of Foreign Ministers and were accepted immediately by the United States, British, and French Deputies. On the evening of August 28 Soviet officials delivered a note to the United States Embassy in Moscow which clearly indicated that the Soviet Government had no interest in discussing Austria at that time. (Telegram 289 from Moscow, August 29, 663.001/8–2953)
Documentation concerning the tripartite meetings in London which began on August 28, including letters from Byington to Bonbright providing his personal evaluation of the talks, is in file 663.001.